We showcase more than fifteen different releases that show where commercial design is going—from nature-inspired patterns to new ergonomics.

Patricia Urquiola’s Bandas Space for Haworth, in which the geometries of her Bandas rugs crawl over simple lounge forms like handcrafted pixels, is just one instance of the “Color Fields” trend in recent design. Courtesy the designer and manufacturer

This week marks the 50th anniversary of NeoCon! Stay tuned to our homepage for our coverage of the convention, but in the meantime, these designs offer object lessons on recent trends in commercial design.

#1: Standard NatureA near-universal characteristic of natural patterns and textures is that they appear random while still possessing an underlying structure. And through repetition or replication, this phenomenon—visible in the way leaves grow or rocks weather—creates diversity. Recently, designers inspired by nature have forgone direct visual references in favor of beautifully varied textures and patterns. FilzFelt’s Ribsy felt wall tiles (seen here) use subtle color variations, available in 50 color options, to enhance their texture.

Courtesy the designer and manufacturer

#1: Standard NatureA near-universal characteristic of natural patterns and textures is that they appear random while still possessing an underlying structure. And through repetition or replication, this phenomenon—visible in the way leaves grow or rocks weather—creates diversity. Recently, designers inspired by nature have forgone direct visual references in favor of beautifully varied textures and patterns. FilzFelt’s Ribsy felt wall tiles (seen here) use subtle color variations, available in 50 color options, to enhance their texture.

#1: Standard NatureLuum’s Tactility collection goes even deeper, with stitching that fades in and out of the surface and woven patterns inspired by moiré—inviting busy passersby to stop and touch the textiles.

Courtesy the designer and manufacturer

#1: Standard NatureLuum’s Tactility collection goes even deeper, with stitching that fades in and out of the surface and woven patterns inspired by moiré—inviting busy passersby to stop and touch the textiles.

#2: Color FieldsThe installation artist Gabriel Dawe’s 3D rainbows, composed of thousands of individual threads, conjure up the hidden color and volume of light in space. His collaboration with Mannington Commercial (seen here), Moiré, works a different contruction technique by exposing color fields through surface excavations. This spring, a number of manufacturers are striving in similar ways to bring dimensional fields of light and shadow into contract spaces.

Courtesy the designer and manufacturer

#2: Color FieldsThe installation artist Gabriel Dawe’s 3D rainbows, composed of thousands of individual threads, conjure up the hidden color and volume of light in space. His collaboration with Mannington Commercial (seen here), Moiré, works a different contruction technique by exposing color fields through surface excavations. This spring, a number of manufacturers are striving in similar ways to bring dimensional fields of light and shadow into contract spaces.

#3: Working LoungesThe idea that relaxation and productive work can’t coexist is now a thing of the past. Furniture that was once solely the domain of bars, restaurants, and occasionally reception areas can now be found at the heart of the workplace—and it’s often the most vibrant zone of an office. BuzziSpark (seen here), designed by Alain Gilles for BuzziSpace, responds to this evolution by ensconcing sofas within sound-absorbing panels, turning leisure furniture into productive architectural elements.

Courtesy the designer and manufacturer

#3: Working LoungesThe idea that relaxation and productive work can’t coexist is now a thing of the past. Furniture that was once solely the domain of bars, restaurants, and occasionally reception areas can now be found at the heart of the workplace—and it’s often the most vibrant zone of an office. BuzziSpark (seen here), designed by Alain Gilles for BuzziSpace, responds to this evolution by ensconcing sofas within sound-absorbing panels, turning leisure furniture into productive architectural elements.

#3: Working LoungesBlå Station’s BOB sofa system takes a modular approach, allowing for a range of configurations to support work and play alike. It’s clear that the design of lounge furniture has become serious business.

Courtesy the designer and manufacturer

#3: Working LoungesBlå Station’s BOB sofa system takes a modular approach, allowing for a range of configurations to support work and play alike. It’s clear that the design of lounge furniture has become serious business.

#4: At EaseThe holy grail of ergonomic design is intuitive adjustment—furniture that anticipates the user’s every move. Herman Miller is the latest to claim an effortless user experience with Cosm, a task chair designed by Studio 7.5 and engineered for fluid movement. Cosm may not work miracles, but it’s an attractive indicator of where desk seating is likely to go: a liberating experience that dynamically adjusts to a sitter’s changing postures. The chair comes in three back heights (including one with total spinal support) and multiple arm options to accommodate a variety of bodies and preferences, and the allover dipped-in-color adds to a seamless, of-the-moment athleisure aesthetic. Whose move?

Courtesy the designer and manufacturer

#4: At EaseThe holy grail of ergonomic design is intuitive adjustment—furniture that anticipates the user’s every move. Herman Miller is the latest to claim an effortless user experience with Cosm, a task chair designed by Studio 7.5 and engineered for fluid movement. Cosm may not work miracles, but it’s an attractive indicator of where desk seating is likely to go: a liberating experience that dynamically adjusts to a sitter’s changing postures. The chair comes in three back heights (including one with total spinal support) and multiple arm options to accommodate a variety of bodies and preferences, and the allover dipped-in-color adds to a seamless, of-the-moment athleisure aesthetic. Whose move?

#5: Modern HeartThe Scandinavian genre of midcentury Modern continues to influence interiors. For those commercial spaces that can seem unwelcoming, Scandinavian Modern offers a human touch. Cubitt, Designtex’s latest textile collection by Wallace Sewell, presents a take on Bauhaus weaving that manages to be both subdued and optimistic— and sustainable, using 75 percent postconsumer polyester.

Courtesy the designer and manufacturer

#5: Modern HeartThe Scandinavian genre of midcentury Modern continues to influence interiors. For those commercial spaces that can seem unwelcoming, Scandinavian Modern offers a human touch. Cubitt, Designtex’s latest textile collection by Wallace Sewell, presents a take on Bauhaus weaving that manages to be both subdued and optimistic— and sustainable, using 75 percent postconsumer polyester.

#7: Human-Centered MechanicsProblem solving is still the primary driving force behind design—but our ability to identify challenges has become more sophisticated than it was just a few decades ago. Mechanical solutions for folding, rotation, or modularity in product components were once used to improve space usage, durability, and efficiency. Now they are also helping us lead healthier, happier lives. The seat of SitOnIt’s Movi Nester, for example, doesn’t just fold up for compact storage; it also flexes to make prolonged sitting comfortable.

Courtesy the designer and manufacturer

#7: Human-Centered MechanicsProblem solving is still the primary driving force behind design—but our ability to identify challenges has become more sophisticated than it was just a few decades ago. Mechanical solutions for folding, rotation, or modularity in product components were once used to improve space usage, durability, and efficiency. Now they are also helping us lead healthier, happier lives. The seat of SitOnIt’s Movi Nester, for example, doesn’t just fold up for compact storage; it also flexes to make prolonged sitting comfortable.

#7: Human-Centered MechanicsTaken together, these products (such as the Teknion Swerv monitor arm, seen here, and the Koncept Splitty lamp, next slide) demonstrate that a simple user experience is an effective answer to a complex design problem.

Courtesy the designer and manufacturer

#7: Human-Centered MechanicsTaken together, these products (such as the Teknion Swerv monitor arm, seen here, and the Koncept Splitty lamp, next slide) demonstrate that a simple user experience is an effective answer to a complex design problem.